“If it’s Court policy that we have a hiring freeze, then how can somebody — anybody — hire somebody and us not know about it? And if they are, why aren’t they being punished?” Eversole asked county budget officer Dick Raycraft.

A memo from the county’s human resource director to the Court recommended that newly elected officials be exempt from the hiring freeze for the purpose of allowing them “to replace personal staff and other limited changes in connection with the election results.”

“If we have a freeze, how’s that legal?” Eversole said, getting increasingly agitated. Eversole said he has needs, too. One of his Precinct 4 parks — Collins Park — that is supposed to be staffed by seven people is down to one.

Raycraft tried an analogy: If Eversole had lost his election in November, he would have had people he have wanted to place in jobs.

“Dick, I didn’t lose!” Eversole shot back.

Eversole has repeatedly criticized the sheriff in recent months. But in this case the sheriff was the symptom, not the cause, Eversole indicated.

“I don’t give a damn about who’s doing it and who’s not doing it. I want to know how are they doing it?” Eversole said.

Raycraft explained that the hires were limited to a small number of people, to which Eversole deadpanned, “That’s like saying you’re a little pregnant.”

County Judge Ed Emmett has also chafed against the budget office authorizing exemptions from the hiring freeze. Emmett has repeatedly said that Commissioners Court should be making those decisions.

“It’s one thing for a new person to be able to hire their own people, but it’s something else that just because somebody lost doesn’t mean their people get protected,” Emmett said.